WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.700 From Yellowstone National Park where spring feels 00:00:02.700 --> 00:00:05.360 about three weeks ahead of schedule This is that 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:07.759 Scott guy you know in love with a brand new episode 00:00:07.759 --> 00:00:21.059 of this week in Yellowstone What's up everybody? 00:00:21.260 --> 00:00:23.320 This week in Yellowstone National Park from March 00:00:23.320 --> 00:00:27.460 26th to April 1st, 2026, I'll let you know about 00:00:27.460 --> 00:00:30.120 biking the roads, give you some tips about dealing 00:00:30.120 --> 00:00:33.060 with mud season, tell you to hike a canyon rim, 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:36.159 and share how the park monitors the wolf packs. 00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:38.759 I'll also give you the complete weather forecast, 00:00:39.119 --> 00:00:41.920 the snow pack update, the wildlife report, and 00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:43.640 everything else you need to have an incredible 00:00:43.640 --> 00:00:47.570 time this week in Yellowstone. standard disclaimer 00:00:47.570 --> 00:00:50.350 gonna miss a few details here and there so if 00:00:50.350 --> 00:00:52.009 there's something that you need more information 00:00:52.009 --> 00:00:54.490 on just reach out and ask any questions you may 00:00:54.490 --> 00:00:57.429 have I also mentioned park locations very casually 00:00:57.429 --> 00:01:00.429 so if you're unfamiliar a quick search can help 00:01:00.429 --> 00:01:04.170 also know that this report only covers the drivable 00:01:04.170 --> 00:01:06.810 areas of the park. I should be able to say that 00:01:06.810 --> 00:01:09.390 by now. I say it every week, but sometimes I 00:01:09.390 --> 00:01:12.170 stumble over words. Finally, please know that 00:01:12.170 --> 00:01:14.750 this podcast is a passion project of mine. If 00:01:14.750 --> 00:01:17.329 you enjoy it, I'd love a review or a quick email. 00:01:17.709 --> 00:01:19.650 If you want to support my work further, you can 00:01:19.650 --> 00:01:21.930 check out my hiking and wildlife watching guidebooks, 00:01:22.010 --> 00:01:24.469 or you can join me for a guided hiking tour in 00:01:24.469 --> 00:01:26.959 Yellowstone's backcountry. For more information, 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:30.620 visit Outdoor -Society .com or contact me directly 00:01:30.620 --> 00:01:37.739 406 -589 -1873. Just send me a text. This week's 00:01:37.739 --> 00:01:40.230 Yellowstone News. So there's not much news in 00:01:40.230 --> 00:01:42.170 the park right now. The main story is the one 00:01:42.170 --> 00:01:44.069 I'm going to be talking about in the experience 00:01:44.069 --> 00:01:47.010 of the week, which is biking in the park. Other 00:01:47.010 --> 00:01:49.469 than that, bears are active. Can talk about that 00:01:49.469 --> 00:01:51.409 in the wildlife report and the trail report. 00:01:52.010 --> 00:01:54.450 And generally only the northern range is open. 00:01:54.629 --> 00:01:56.829 Things are going well in the park. That's about 00:01:56.829 --> 00:01:59.439 it. There's no news, which is good news. I'm 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:01.420 sure things will pick up and we'll actually have 00:02:01.420 --> 00:02:03.719 some news stories pretty soon. Next couple of 00:02:03.719 --> 00:02:05.659 weeks, some roads open, things like that. But 00:02:05.659 --> 00:02:08.020 right now, no real news in the park. If you want 00:02:08.020 --> 00:02:10.939 some cool news, check out the Caldera Chronicles, 00:02:11.319 --> 00:02:17.039 the USGS weekly kind of podcast, as well as actually, 00:02:17.120 --> 00:02:18.780 I don't know if it's a podcast. I know they write 00:02:18.780 --> 00:02:21.340 it. But check that out if you want some just 00:02:21.340 --> 00:02:24.520 cool geyser news. Otherwise, let's talk about 00:02:24.520 --> 00:02:27.409 the experience of the week. which is biking the 00:02:27.409 --> 00:02:30.710 road between Mammoth and West Yellowstone. So 00:02:30.710 --> 00:02:32.810 biking for the spring season is now officially 00:02:32.810 --> 00:02:34.969 underway in Yellowstone National Park. As of 00:02:34.969 --> 00:02:38.229 March 20th, 2026, the park opened the road between 00:02:38.229 --> 00:02:40.870 Mammoth and West Yellowstone to cyclists and 00:02:40.870 --> 00:02:43.569 pedestrians ahead of the spring vehicle season. 00:02:43.870 --> 00:02:46.330 This annual window allows visitors to travel 00:02:46.330 --> 00:02:49.169 park roads without non -essential motor vehicle 00:02:49.169 --> 00:02:52.389 traffic. Keep in mind that park service staff 00:02:52.389 --> 00:02:54.770 and plowing vehicles are still going to be on 00:02:54.770 --> 00:02:57.090 the road going back and forth, so the roads aren't 00:02:57.090 --> 00:02:59.629 going to be completely empty, just very little 00:02:59.629 --> 00:03:02.530 used. The Mammoth to West Yellowstone corridor 00:03:02.530 --> 00:03:05.469 covers approximately 49 miles and represents 00:03:05.469 --> 00:03:08.210 the primary spring cycling route in Yellowstone. 00:03:08.569 --> 00:03:11.229 Access is permitted only on the roads that have 00:03:11.229 --> 00:03:13.889 been cleared of snow and are not being actively 00:03:13.889 --> 00:03:16.610 plowed. Cyclists must yield to snowplows and 00:03:16.610 --> 00:03:19.349 other authorized vehicles, and road statuses 00:03:19.349 --> 00:03:22.129 can change quickly depending on weather and operational 00:03:22.129 --> 00:03:25.789 needs. So because I am located closer to Mammoth 00:03:25.789 --> 00:03:27.849 than West Yellowstone, I'm going to talk about 00:03:27.849 --> 00:03:30.750 biking the road from Mammoth. So from Mammoth, 00:03:30.770 --> 00:03:33.569 the route begins with a gradual climb past the 00:03:33.569 --> 00:03:36.610 upper terrace loop. and then you kind of go by 00:03:36.610 --> 00:03:39.210 a pretty waterfall and then up to Swan Lake Flats. 00:03:39.310 --> 00:03:41.389 This is the steepest hill you're going to experience 00:03:41.389 --> 00:03:44.750 all day, and it can be a little difficult if 00:03:44.750 --> 00:03:47.090 you're not used to biking, but plug along and 00:03:47.090 --> 00:03:50.289 you'll be fine. Once you're up to Swan Lake Flats, 00:03:50.449 --> 00:03:52.770 everything opens up and it's absolutely gorgeous. 00:03:52.870 --> 00:03:54.729 You're going to see Bunsen Peak. You're going 00:03:54.729 --> 00:03:57.770 to see the Gallatins and all of that. You're 00:03:57.770 --> 00:03:59.469 going to be able to have all of these views of 00:03:59.469 --> 00:04:00.770 mountains that you haven't been able to see for 00:04:00.770 --> 00:04:03.090 a while. It's absolutely stunning. After you 00:04:03.090 --> 00:04:06.629 get through there, you're going to get to Sheep 00:04:06.629 --> 00:04:09.169 Eater Cliff, which is one of my favorite places. 00:04:09.689 --> 00:04:12.930 If the road is good, bike down the Sheep Eater 00:04:12.930 --> 00:04:15.750 Cliff Road and then walk along the river from 00:04:15.750 --> 00:04:18.449 there. It's absolutely stunning. Highly recommend 00:04:18.449 --> 00:04:20.639 that. If you want to call that a day and turn 00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:22.720 around, that's a good turning point. If you want 00:04:22.720 --> 00:04:24.860 to keep going, then eventually you're going to 00:04:24.860 --> 00:04:27.879 reach places like obsidian cliffs, which are 00:04:27.879 --> 00:04:30.379 a significant geological and cultural site composed 00:04:30.379 --> 00:04:33.540 of volcanic glass used historically by indigenous 00:04:33.540 --> 00:04:36.379 people. Really cool place to just take some time. 00:04:36.500 --> 00:04:38.300 Usually when you're driving, you're flying by 00:04:38.300 --> 00:04:40.160 there. And I think there's only one pull out 00:04:40.160 --> 00:04:42.620 and one little visitor center area that is fine. 00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:45.649 But, you know. riding your bike is much better. 00:04:46.230 --> 00:04:48.029 Then you're going to keep winding down and pretty 00:04:48.029 --> 00:04:49.790 soon you're going to get toward Norris Geyser 00:04:49.790 --> 00:04:52.810 Basin. You're going to go by the Roaring Mountain 00:04:52.810 --> 00:04:54.709 and then you're going to drop down to Norris. 00:04:55.069 --> 00:04:57.470 There also is a Norris Geyser Basin overlook 00:04:57.470 --> 00:04:59.730 that you don't have to drop down to get to Norris 00:04:59.730 --> 00:05:01.949 and you can still see the Norris Geyser Basin. 00:05:02.410 --> 00:05:05.319 Important note here As far as I know, Norris 00:05:05.319 --> 00:05:08.079 Geyser Basin is not open to hike right now. So 00:05:08.079 --> 00:05:09.939 if you ride there, you're not going to be able 00:05:09.939 --> 00:05:11.860 to walk around the basin. They're doing some 00:05:11.860 --> 00:05:15.120 repairs last I heard. And so you're just not 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:17.040 going to be able to do that. However, that's 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:19.639 a great ride. You go there and back. Fantastic. 00:05:19.720 --> 00:05:22.459 You can turn around or not. If you're feeling 00:05:22.459 --> 00:05:25.579 much more aggressive about things, you could 00:05:25.579 --> 00:05:27.899 ride all the way to West Yellowstone. If you 00:05:27.899 --> 00:05:30.819 are riding to West after you get. To Norris, 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:33.120 the road descends toward Madison Junction. You're 00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:35.259 going to follow the Gibbon River here. Gibbon 00:05:35.259 --> 00:05:37.879 Falls is prominent and gorgeous, and you're going 00:05:37.879 --> 00:05:40.019 to have some really cool views and opportunities 00:05:40.019 --> 00:05:43.699 to stop in, including good wildlife potential. 00:05:44.040 --> 00:05:48.519 Usually I don't see much at the Swan Lake Flats 00:05:48.519 --> 00:05:50.439 area right now, but you never know. With this 00:05:50.439 --> 00:05:52.500 winter, you might see things, but closer you 00:05:52.500 --> 00:05:55.370 get to Madison, the more wildlife there is. The 00:05:55.370 --> 00:05:57.709 final segment from Madison Junction to West Yellowstone 00:05:57.709 --> 00:06:00.930 spans about 13 to 14 miles and just follows the 00:06:00.930 --> 00:06:05.470 Madison River on a almost perfectly flat road. 00:06:05.589 --> 00:06:08.449 Like it's gorgeous. And if you want to do that, 00:06:08.449 --> 00:06:10.990 great. You're going to have 49 miles each way. 00:06:11.490 --> 00:06:14.709 And so what some people do is they will bike 00:06:14.709 --> 00:06:17.329 from Mammoth to West Yellowstone, spend the night 00:06:17.329 --> 00:06:19.290 in West Yellowstone and then ride back. If you're 00:06:19.290 --> 00:06:22.629 going to do that. Fantastic. Just know that. 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:25.800 There are no services available along this route 00:06:25.800 --> 00:06:29.639 and food, water, probably restrooms or mechanical 00:06:29.639 --> 00:06:32.319 assistance are not available. If something happens, 00:06:32.439 --> 00:06:34.860 you're kind of stuck. So cyclists are expected 00:06:34.860 --> 00:06:37.000 to be fully self -sufficient and prepared for 00:06:37.000 --> 00:06:39.199 rapidly changing weather conditions, including 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:42.100 snow, wind and temperature fluctuations. Sometimes 00:06:42.100 --> 00:06:43.819 it can seem like it's a beautiful day and then 00:06:43.819 --> 00:06:46.040 you get beyond Swan Lake Flats and that wind 00:06:46.040 --> 00:06:47.980 starts ripping and you're like, why didn't I 00:06:47.980 --> 00:06:51.240 bring gloves? So. Be prepared. It's spring bicycling 00:06:51.240 --> 00:06:55.740 and it's. It's not summer, right? It's going 00:06:55.740 --> 00:06:58.839 to be cool, but it's also going to be cool because 00:06:58.839 --> 00:07:01.680 there's not a lot of cars out. So know that this 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:04.139 early season access period is temporary and typically 00:07:04.139 --> 00:07:07.379 ends once roads open to public motor vehicle 00:07:07.379 --> 00:07:09.660 traffic in April. Well, you can still bike on 00:07:09.660 --> 00:07:12.040 the roads after the park roads open to vehicles. 00:07:12.060 --> 00:07:13.860 You're going to be sharing the narrow winding 00:07:13.860 --> 00:07:16.839 roads with cars, so it's not necessarily ideal 00:07:16.839 --> 00:07:18.939 if you're not experienced with that. But right 00:07:18.939 --> 00:07:21.819 now, the Mammoth to West Yellowstone route provides 00:07:21.819 --> 00:07:24.060 a unique and special opportunity to travel a 00:07:24.060 --> 00:07:27.060 significant portion of the road system in a low 00:07:27.060 --> 00:07:29.779 traffic environment. I've done this before. I 00:07:29.779 --> 00:07:32.139 absolutely love it. If you have a good bike, 00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:35.000 Great. If you don't, there's places to rent bikes 00:07:35.000 --> 00:07:37.339 in West Yellowstone, or you can rent them at 00:07:37.339 --> 00:07:39.660 Dan Bailey's up in Livingston before you drive 00:07:39.660 --> 00:07:43.379 down to Gardner. This is a truly great experience. 00:07:43.699 --> 00:07:47.360 And if you love biking, like just going through 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:49.439 Swan Lake Flats and back like to the Gardner 00:07:49.439 --> 00:07:52.939 River and back is great. Like highly recommend 00:07:52.939 --> 00:07:55.040 it. It's why it's my experience of the week. 00:07:55.279 --> 00:07:58.480 So do that. Enjoy it. Let me hear all about it. 00:07:58.480 --> 00:08:00.459 If you've done it before, what are some of your 00:08:00.459 --> 00:08:05.220 stories? Love to share those. My tip of the week. 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:08.339 Maneuvering mud season. So mud season has arrived 00:08:08.339 --> 00:08:11.839 in Dallestone National Park. My boots have proven 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:14.699 that after the last few hikes, so yay! If you're 00:08:14.699 --> 00:08:16.680 planning on hiking right now, this is something 00:08:16.680 --> 00:08:19.279 you need to be ready for. As temperatures rise 00:08:19.279 --> 00:08:21.699 and snow begins to melt across the park, trails 00:08:21.699 --> 00:08:24.560 are turning soft, saturated, and in many cases, 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:28.300 deeply muddy and slick. Spring conditions always 00:08:28.300 --> 00:08:32.049 bring... unstable trails, snow melts gonna kind 00:08:32.049 --> 00:08:34.730 of impact the ground, we're also gonna get some 00:08:34.730 --> 00:08:38.129 rain and that doesn't drain very well, and the 00:08:38.129 --> 00:08:40.529 cold ground even though it hasn't been like super 00:08:40.529 --> 00:08:43.110 snowy the ground's pretty cold and as that warms 00:08:43.110 --> 00:08:47.289 up all of that combined just makes the mud pretty 00:08:47.289 --> 00:08:50.330 unbearable at times. Right now that means many 00:08:50.330 --> 00:08:53.350 trails are a mix of mud, standing water, and 00:08:53.350 --> 00:08:55.809 lingering snow. It's really not uncommon to hit 00:08:55.809 --> 00:08:58.860 all three on a single hike. That's where footwear 00:08:58.860 --> 00:09:01.679 becomes critical this time of year. Waterproof 00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:05.100 boots are strongly recommended and even then 00:09:05.100 --> 00:09:08.440 expect them to get dirty and not have the greatest 00:09:08.440 --> 00:09:10.639 of traction. The trails are going to be slick, 00:09:10.700 --> 00:09:13.799 uneven, and occasionally submerged. Even the 00:09:13.799 --> 00:09:16.480 best traction boots in mud season in Yellowstone 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:19.299 are not really going to help you on some trails. 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:21.539 They will help you on others, so definitely have 00:09:21.539 --> 00:09:25.259 that. Also, gators are a useful addition. They 00:09:25.259 --> 00:09:27.399 help keep mud and water from getting into your 00:09:27.399 --> 00:09:30.399 boots. I highly recommend bringing trekking poles. 00:09:30.600 --> 00:09:33.299 They are a huge difference maker especially when 00:09:33.299 --> 00:09:37.620 navigating in deeper mud or just dealing with 00:09:37.620 --> 00:09:41.120 trying to have any traction whatsoever. I'm saying 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:43.960 traction a lot because traction matters and all 00:09:43.960 --> 00:09:46.799 of this is important enough to say that in Yellowstone 00:09:47.620 --> 00:09:50.259 The trails do not care what traction you have. 00:09:50.379 --> 00:09:52.120 I've been saying that a couple of times now, 00:09:52.120 --> 00:09:54.840 and I just want to stress that. In lots of places, 00:09:55.299 --> 00:09:57.539 the mud's just gonna stick more and more with 00:09:57.539 --> 00:10:00.639 each step you take, and it turns each foot into 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:04.220 a brick of mud. Sometimes the mud will just give 00:10:04.220 --> 00:10:06.659 and you'll sink all the way in. I've been hiking 00:10:06.659 --> 00:10:09.299 with somebody and their shoe popped off as they 00:10:09.299 --> 00:10:12.639 sunk in mud and their shoe stuck in the mud and 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:14.919 then filled with the mud that was overflowing 00:10:14.919 --> 00:10:18.389 and we had to dig out the shoe. Not ideal. So 00:10:18.389 --> 00:10:21.710 everything you can do to avoid that, the better. 00:10:22.169 --> 00:10:24.789 So if you see deep mud, don't step there. You 00:10:24.789 --> 00:10:28.049 know, try and take good steps of where it doesn't 00:10:28.049 --> 00:10:31.330 look like the mud's going to be too bad. Also, 00:10:31.730 --> 00:10:34.370 timing your hike can help a lot. Early in the 00:10:34.370 --> 00:10:36.529 morning when temperatures are cooler, the ground 00:10:36.529 --> 00:10:39.659 is often more firm. As the day warms up, the 00:10:39.659 --> 00:10:42.519 mud warms up and trails soften very quickly. 00:10:42.899 --> 00:10:45.120 By afternoon, sections that were manageable in 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:48.100 the morning can turn into thick energy draining 00:10:48.100 --> 00:10:50.600 mud. If you want the best conditions available, 00:10:50.940 --> 00:10:54.000 start early and end early. That's your best option. 00:10:55.059 --> 00:10:58.440 Route selection also plays a huge role. The lower 00:10:58.440 --> 00:11:01.179 elevation trails tend to melt out first, but 00:11:01.179 --> 00:11:03.250 they also tend to get muddy first. The higher 00:11:03.250 --> 00:11:05.990 elevation trails may still be snow covered, which 00:11:05.990 --> 00:11:07.990 can actually be easier to travel on than the 00:11:07.990 --> 00:11:10.350 deep mud, depending on the conditions. If you 00:11:10.350 --> 00:11:12.490 need help in deciding which is better, reach 00:11:12.490 --> 00:11:15.629 out to me, I can help you. Know that hiking on 00:11:15.629 --> 00:11:18.850 slopes of trails that are south facing is going 00:11:18.850 --> 00:11:20.750 to be better than those that are north facing 00:11:20.750 --> 00:11:23.210 as they get more sunlight and they dry faster. 00:11:23.690 --> 00:11:25.690 Most of the south facing trails I've been hiking 00:11:25.690 --> 00:11:28.669 recently are perfectly fine. The north ones, 00:11:29.049 --> 00:11:32.129 not so much. So, you might need to adjust your 00:11:32.129 --> 00:11:34.029 plans once you see what conditions are actually 00:11:34.029 --> 00:11:35.929 like on the ground and just find something that 00:11:35.929 --> 00:11:38.710 has dried out a bit more. Again, if you need 00:11:38.710 --> 00:11:41.470 some suggestions, reach out to me happy to help. 00:11:42.830 --> 00:11:45.570 Mud season also slows everything down. Distances 00:11:45.570 --> 00:11:48.350 take longer, footing is less stable, and energy 00:11:48.350 --> 00:11:50.990 use is higher. A hike that feels easy in August 00:11:50.990 --> 00:11:53.789 can feel much more demanding right now. Planning 00:11:53.789 --> 00:11:55.830 shorter routes and giving yourself extra time? 00:11:56.169 --> 00:11:59.330 Very smart approach. There's really no way to 00:11:59.330 --> 00:12:01.509 avoid the reality of mud season in Yellowstone 00:12:01.509 --> 00:12:03.970 right now. If you want to hike, know that trails 00:12:03.970 --> 00:12:06.529 are messy, conditions are inconsistent, and your 00:12:06.529 --> 00:12:09.450 boots are not going to stay clean. But with the 00:12:09.450 --> 00:12:11.970 right expectations and preparations, it's still 00:12:11.970 --> 00:12:14.789 a great time to be out. If you embrace the conditions 00:12:14.789 --> 00:12:17.210 instead of fighting them, mud season becomes 00:12:17.210 --> 00:12:19.870 less of an obstacle and more of just another 00:12:19.870 --> 00:12:22.190 part of experiencing the park as it transitions 00:12:22.190 --> 00:12:25.850 into spring. This is a great time to hike, just 00:12:25.850 --> 00:12:30.139 know it's Not always the most fun, but it's beautiful 00:12:30.139 --> 00:12:33.519 out there. My random Yellowstone fact of the 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:37.700 week. How Yellowstone monitors the wolves. Monitoring 00:12:37.700 --> 00:12:39.980 wolves in Yellowstone National Park is one of 00:12:39.980 --> 00:12:42.179 the most in -depth wildlife research efforts 00:12:42.179 --> 00:12:44.779 anywhere in the world. Ever since wolves were 00:12:44.779 --> 00:12:47.899 reintroduced in 1995, scientists have been tracking 00:12:47.899 --> 00:12:49.860 them in ways that go far beyond just counting 00:12:49.860 --> 00:12:52.399 how many there are. The goal is to understand 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:55.179 how they move, how the packs function, how they 00:12:55.179 --> 00:12:57.580 hunt, and how they shape the ecosystem around 00:12:57.580 --> 00:13:00.659 them. A big part of that work starts with radio 00:13:00.659 --> 00:13:03.620 collars. Each winter, biologists capture a small 00:13:03.620 --> 00:13:06.080 number of wolves, usually from a helicopter, 00:13:06.679 --> 00:13:09.539 using either darting or net gunning, and then 00:13:09.539 --> 00:13:12.259 once the animal is safely handled, it's fitted 00:13:12.259 --> 00:13:15.379 with a collar that sends out location data. Some 00:13:15.379 --> 00:13:18.240 collars use GPS and transmit locations via satellite, 00:13:18.620 --> 00:13:21.759 sometimes multiple times a day. Others use VHF 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:24.759 signals, which require researchers to physically 00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:26.980 track them from the ground or from aircraft. 00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:30.700 National Park Service says that about 30 % of 00:13:30.700 --> 00:13:33.299 the wolves in a pack are collared, which is enough 00:13:33.299 --> 00:13:35.320 to give a clear picture of how that group moves 00:13:35.320 --> 00:13:39.019 across the landscape. Those collars are incredibly 00:13:39.019 --> 00:13:42.120 important. They allow researchers to map territories, 00:13:42.419 --> 00:13:44.779 locate dens, follow dispersing wolves, and even 00:13:44.779 --> 00:13:46.840 detect when a wolf has died if a collar stops 00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:51.100 moving. Over time, this has created one of the 00:13:51.100 --> 00:13:53.860 most detailed long -term data sets for any large 00:13:53.860 --> 00:13:57.620 carnivore anywhere. I should be clear and note 00:13:57.620 --> 00:14:00.039 that Yellowstone's wolf research is not just 00:14:00.039 --> 00:14:02.600 about technology. A lot of it still comes down 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:05.440 to people in the field. The park's wolf project 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:08.360 relies heavily on direct observations, especially 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:10.759 in the northern range where visibility is wide 00:14:10.759 --> 00:14:14.029 open. Biologists spend hours, often entire days, 00:14:14.330 --> 00:14:16.230 watching wolves through spotting scopes. They 00:14:16.230 --> 00:14:18.769 track pack dynamics, identify breeding pairs, 00:14:18.970 --> 00:14:22.429 count pups, and document behavior. These observations 00:14:22.429 --> 00:14:25.370 are critical for understanding how packs change 00:14:25.370 --> 00:14:28.049 over time and how successful they are from year 00:14:28.049 --> 00:14:32.110 to year. Aerial tracking is another major piece 00:14:32.110 --> 00:14:44.139 of the puzzle. Researchers used fixed -wing aircraft 00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:46.480 to locate collared wolves across Yellowstone's 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:48.659 massive landscape. You may have spotted some 00:14:48.659 --> 00:14:50.440 of the small planes flying in the park over the 00:14:50.440 --> 00:14:52.379 winter and spring. There's one just out the other 00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:55.399 day. They circle an area for a bit. And these 00:14:55.399 --> 00:14:57.840 are the research planes. These flights make it 00:14:57.840 --> 00:15:00.659 possible to quickly find packs, estimate group 00:15:00.659 --> 00:15:03.419 size, and track changes that would be hard to 00:15:03.419 --> 00:15:05.720 catch from the ground. When you combine these 00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:08.159 flights with GPS data, you get a much bigger 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:10.419 landscape level understanding of where wolves 00:15:10.419 --> 00:15:13.820 are and what they're doing. There's also a strong 00:15:13.820 --> 00:15:16.460 focus on health and genetics. When wolves are 00:15:16.460 --> 00:15:19.139 captured or one is found dead, scientists collect 00:15:19.139 --> 00:15:21.720 samples like blood and tissue. They're used to 00:15:21.720 --> 00:15:24.580 monitor diseases such as mange or canine distemper 00:15:24.580 --> 00:15:27.539 and to build genetic profiles of the individual 00:15:27.539 --> 00:15:31.149 wolves. That genetic work helps researchers understand 00:15:31.149 --> 00:15:33.769 relationships with impacts, track reproduction, 00:15:34.350 --> 00:15:37.590 and measure genetic diversity over time. Studies 00:15:37.590 --> 00:15:40.570 from the USGS show that both disease and genetics 00:15:40.570 --> 00:15:43.330 play a major role in how stable the wolf population 00:15:43.330 --> 00:15:46.470 is in Yellowstone. I talked about how there was 00:15:46.470 --> 00:15:50.090 this distemper that kind of took out a lot of 00:15:50.090 --> 00:15:52.889 pups in the interior this year. That was all 00:15:52.889 --> 00:15:55.919 because these wolves are so studied. In recent 00:15:55.919 --> 00:15:58.299 years, non -invasive methods have become more 00:15:58.299 --> 00:16:00.799 common as well. Researchers collect scat and 00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:03.480 hair samples to extract DNA without ever handling 00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:06.480 the animal. Camera traps are also used, especially 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:09.759 in the forested or hard to see areas where visual 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:13.240 observation is limited. These tools help confirm 00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:15.879 pack presence, estimate population size, and 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:18.679 monitor wolves that are not collared. One of 00:16:18.679 --> 00:16:20.899 the newer and more interesting tools is sound. 00:16:21.230 --> 00:16:24.250 Scientists have started using acoustic recorders 00:16:24.250 --> 00:16:27.330 placed along the landscape to capture wolf howls. 00:16:27.669 --> 00:16:30.309 By analyzing these recordings, they can estimate 00:16:30.309 --> 00:16:32.690 where wolves are, how many packs are in the area, 00:16:32.809 --> 00:16:34.950 and how they communicate across the territory. 00:16:35.850 --> 00:16:37.570 Thousands of howling events have already been 00:16:37.570 --> 00:16:40.049 recorded through this work, adding another layer 00:16:40.049 --> 00:16:42.669 to how wolves are studied. Researchers also spend 00:16:42.669 --> 00:16:44.690 a lot of time studying what wolves eat and how 00:16:44.690 --> 00:16:48.110 they hunt. Using GPS collar data, they can identify 00:16:48.110 --> 00:16:51.250 clusters places where wolves stay in one spot 00:16:51.250 --> 00:16:54.009 for a while, which often signals a kill site. 00:16:54.409 --> 00:16:56.409 Biologists will hike to those locations to confirm 00:16:56.409 --> 00:16:59.230 what prey was taken, it's usually elk, and to 00:16:59.230 --> 00:17:01.309 better understand predator -prey relationships. 00:17:01.970 --> 00:17:04.329 Long -term research has shown that the prey availability, 00:17:04.769 --> 00:17:07.390 especially elk populations, has a major influence 00:17:07.390 --> 00:17:10.630 on wolf behavior and success rates. When you 00:17:10.630 --> 00:17:12.990 step back and look at just wolf monitoring altogether, 00:17:13.730 --> 00:17:15.430 it's not just about keeping track of numbers, 00:17:15.809 --> 00:17:18.130 it's about understanding the entire ecosystem. 00:17:18.670 --> 00:17:21.289 Movement, behavior, genetics, disease, and ecology 00:17:21.289 --> 00:17:23.789 all come together. And that's what makes Yellowstone 00:17:23.789 --> 00:17:26.309 such an important natural laboratory and why 00:17:26.309 --> 00:17:28.369 the work being done here continues to shape how 00:17:28.369 --> 00:17:30.490 wolves are studied and managed across the world. 00:17:30.930 --> 00:17:33.789 You see a lot of studies about these wolves in 00:17:33.789 --> 00:17:35.670 Yellowstone. You see a lot of people watching 00:17:35.670 --> 00:17:38.910 them. That's because they're, you know, this 00:17:38.910 --> 00:17:41.990 test case of how do you reintroduce wolves. Very 00:17:41.990 --> 00:17:44.730 important. They're being studied, they're being 00:17:44.730 --> 00:17:47.970 watched, not always in the best of ways, but 00:17:48.029 --> 00:17:50.930 Every single year, we're learning more and more 00:17:50.930 --> 00:17:53.789 about wolf behavior and scientists are learning 00:17:53.789 --> 00:17:56.789 how to watch them without interfering with them. 00:17:56.849 --> 00:17:59.430 And that is awesome. And that is why Yellowstone 00:17:59.430 --> 00:18:02.269 Wildlife Watching and the experts about that 00:18:02.269 --> 00:18:04.470 deal with wildlife in the park are such fantastic 00:18:04.470 --> 00:18:06.410 people. If you see them out in the field, thank 00:18:06.410 --> 00:18:08.609 them for their work. If you see any ranger, thank 00:18:08.609 --> 00:18:11.789 them for their work. The weather for the coming 00:18:11.789 --> 00:18:14.869 week. So as always, this is the best forecast 00:18:14.869 --> 00:18:16.950 for the week at the time of the recording. It 00:18:16.950 --> 00:18:20.509 could change. It might not, we'll see, but this 00:18:20.509 --> 00:18:22.869 at least gives you kind of an idea of what to 00:18:22.869 --> 00:18:26.349 expect. So let's start with Lamar Valley. On 00:18:26.349 --> 00:18:30.049 Thursday the 26th, high of 43, low of 17, there'll 00:18:30.049 --> 00:18:32.849 be some rain in the morning, then Friday 51 and 00:18:32.849 --> 00:18:39.069 24, Saturday 56 and 29, Sunday 58 and 34, Monday 00:18:39.069 --> 00:18:43.490 56 and 33, with a 72 % chance of rain developing 00:18:43.490 --> 00:18:47.339 in the afternoon, Tuesday High of 44, low of 00:18:47.339 --> 00:18:51.099 28, currently a 65 % of 2 inches of snow. And 00:18:51.099 --> 00:18:55.299 Wednesday, high of 44, low of 29, 64 % chance 00:18:55.299 --> 00:18:59.240 of 1 inch of snow. The weather for Gardner, Montana, 00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:02.799 starting on Thursday the 26th, high of 47, low 00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:06.039 of 21, maybe some rain in the morning. Friday, 00:19:06.380 --> 00:19:10.000 high of 55, low of 29. Saturday, high of 60, 00:19:10.019 --> 00:19:14.880 low of 33. Sunday, high of 62, low of 37. Monday 00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:19.500 high of 59 low of 34 with a 53 % chance about 00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:22.359 third about 1 tenth of an inch of rain in the 00:19:22.359 --> 00:19:26.759 afternoon Evening and Tuesday 47 and 30 60 % 00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:31.059 chance a 1 inch of snow Wednesday 45 and 32 60 00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:34.700 % chance a 1 inch of snow the weather for Cook 00:19:34.700 --> 00:19:38.289 City On Thursday, high of 39, low of 15, some 00:19:38.289 --> 00:19:40.750 snow showers in the morning, and those fade away. 00:19:41.150 --> 00:19:46.450 Friday, 47 and 26. Saturday, 52 and 30. Sunday, 00:19:46.769 --> 00:19:52.269 53 and 35. Monday, 52 and 32, 75 % chance of 00:19:52.269 --> 00:19:54.430 some rain or snow starting in the late morning, 00:19:54.490 --> 00:20:00.130 early afternoon. Tuesday, 43 and 27, 70 % chance 00:20:00.130 --> 00:20:03.779 of 2 inches of snow. And Wednesday, 39 and 28, 00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:07.779 65 % chance of 2 inches of snow. So, good through 00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:10.000 the weekend, then Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:13.140 look to be wet, rainy, or snowy, so we shall 00:20:13.140 --> 00:20:16.440 see. Speaking of snow, here's the snowpack update. 00:20:17.299 --> 00:20:20.359 As of March 24th, the snowpack is around 85 % 00:20:20.359 --> 00:20:22.640 and normal for this time of year. The eastern 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:25.160 and northern ranges of the park are 102 % and 00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:27.299 normal, while the western and southern sides 00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:30.380 are about 75 % and normal. Last year on this 00:20:30.380 --> 00:20:32.779 date. We are averaging around 103 percent of 00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:35.500 normal So we're behind where we were this incoming 00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:37.980 snow and rain that looks like it's gonna hit 00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:40.440 at the end of the this week like Monday Tuesday 00:20:40.440 --> 00:20:42.599 Wednesday into next week That's really gonna 00:20:42.599 --> 00:20:45.000 help balance these numbers out after some warm 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:49.759 weather Road conditions the only road open right 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:51.940 now is the road between Gardner, Montana and 00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:53.940 Cook City, Montana That's gonna be the case for 00:20:53.940 --> 00:20:56.000 another couple of weeks. Please be aware that 00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:58.140 this road can close at any time due to inclement 00:20:58.140 --> 00:21:01.400 weather For up -to -date information, call 307 00:21:01.400 --> 00:21:05.099 -344 -2117 for recorded messages, or you can 00:21:05.099 --> 00:21:07.140 sign up to receive the Yellowstone Road Alerts 00:21:07.140 --> 00:21:10.519 on your cell phone by texting the number 82190 00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:15.759 to the number 888 -777. Camping information. 00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:18.220 There's only one campground open in the park 00:21:18.220 --> 00:21:19.880 right now, and that's the Mammoth Campground, 00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:21.859 which is open year -round. I talked to somebody 00:21:21.859 --> 00:21:23.920 that camped there the other day. They loved it. 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:25.759 They said that there's one other person in the 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:28.630 entire campground. So if you want to camp, Do 00:21:28.630 --> 00:21:32.049 it. It's great. That brings us to the wildlife 00:21:32.049 --> 00:21:35.490 watching update. So the biggest news right now 00:21:35.490 --> 00:21:37.769 is that carcass that I've been telling you about 00:21:37.769 --> 00:21:44.220 at Blacktail Ponds has had a grizzly on it. So 00:21:44.220 --> 00:21:46.359 that's cool. There are also wolves on it the 00:21:46.359 --> 00:21:49.140 other day. That's awesome. There's bears all 00:21:49.140 --> 00:21:51.680 around. I went hiking at Hell Roaring and there 00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:53.519 were tons of bear prints out there. There was 00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:55.980 a carcass by Hell Roaring that wolves had been 00:21:55.980 --> 00:21:58.380 feeding on the day before. And then the grizzly 00:21:58.380 --> 00:22:00.160 came and was eating it the morning that I was 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:02.200 there. Didn't know that at the time, so that 00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:06.799 was neat. There's been moose hanging around by 00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:09.799 the Floating Island Lake area and also before 00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:12.579 you get to Hell Roaring. between Mammoth and 00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:15.039 Hell Roaring off in the little field. There's 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:17.019 also been tons of bison moving back and forth, 00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:20.200 the pronghorn are entering the valleys. There's 00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:23.599 eagles all over. There is energy and excitement 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:25.740 and people have been seeing bluebirds in the 00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:28.299 park. And that's going to continue through this 00:22:28.299 --> 00:22:31.420 weekend for sure. So if you're going to the park 00:22:31.420 --> 00:22:34.019 right now, wildlife watching is awesome. There's 00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:36.380 been a lot of wolf sightings. If you drive back 00:22:36.380 --> 00:22:39.299 and forth, just drive out to Pebble Creek and 00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:42.180 back and more than likely people will be watching 00:22:42.180 --> 00:22:44.559 wolves. They might be a few miles away or they 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:46.779 might be really close. It's just hit and miss 00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:49.880 right now, but animal activity is picking up. 00:22:50.279 --> 00:22:53.319 We're also looking at some bison that are dying 00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:56.059 as they just aren't making it through the winter, 00:22:56.059 --> 00:22:59.660 the older ones and stuff. So those are being 00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:04.029 preyed on by the wolves and as the bison start 00:23:04.029 --> 00:23:06.490 birthing soon you're going to see some breech 00:23:06.490 --> 00:23:08.029 birds things like that so there's going to be 00:23:08.029 --> 00:23:09.849 some dead bison scattered about which means that 00:23:09.849 --> 00:23:12.269 the predators or the scavengers are going to 00:23:12.269 --> 00:23:15.170 be out there a lot more feasting there have been 00:23:15.170 --> 00:23:17.930 tons of elk near the north entrance there have 00:23:17.930 --> 00:23:21.750 been a couple foxes out near the northeast entrance. 00:23:22.349 --> 00:23:24.329 So if you're going into the park this week, like 00:23:24.329 --> 00:23:26.789 I said, your best bet is to drive back and forth, 00:23:26.970 --> 00:23:31.109 get there early by 10 or so when it's warm like 00:23:31.109 --> 00:23:34.470 it has been. Animal activity really drops down 00:23:34.470 --> 00:23:36.589 and then picks up later in the afternoon evening. 00:23:36.769 --> 00:23:40.069 But the biggest news right now is that that pull 00:23:40.069 --> 00:23:42.369 out by blacktail ponds is going to be packed 00:23:42.369 --> 00:23:45.250 because bears are feasting even before the bear 00:23:45.250 --> 00:23:47.130 came out. It was awesome. Like I said, the wolves 00:23:47.130 --> 00:23:50.450 were out there. And then, there's been coyotes 00:23:50.450 --> 00:23:52.630 out there, there's been eagles, there's been 00:23:52.630 --> 00:23:55.369 all sorts of great wildlife watching just by 00:23:55.369 --> 00:24:00.029 those ponds by mammoth. So, enjoy. If I hear 00:24:00.029 --> 00:24:02.329 anything else, I'll probably post about it on 00:24:02.329 --> 00:24:06.650 my social media, but if you need anything, just 00:24:06.650 --> 00:24:10.609 reach out to me. Happy to help. Oh, I also should 00:24:10.609 --> 00:24:13.349 mention that I have hiking and wildlife watching 00:24:13.349 --> 00:24:15.690 guidebooks available through my website outdoor 00:24:15.690 --> 00:24:20.029 -society .com or you can just message me 406 00:24:20.029 --> 00:24:24.069 -589 -1873 for a link. Happy to hook you up with 00:24:24.069 --> 00:24:27.710 those. Ebooks are only $10 and always happy to 00:24:27.710 --> 00:24:31.869 send those out. Trail alerts and updates. Right 00:24:31.869 --> 00:24:34.130 now there's no official trail alerts this week. 00:24:34.509 --> 00:24:36.880 Those are going to resume in April. but bear 00:24:36.880 --> 00:24:39.259 sightings are becoming more common like I said 00:24:39.259 --> 00:24:41.880 I followed some tracks they were very fresh in 00:24:41.880 --> 00:24:44.740 the mud it was kind of amazing and I was super 00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:46.700 excited and everyone else was like oh that doesn't 00:24:46.700 --> 00:24:49.039 sound good but the bear wasn't anywhere near 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:51.799 there wasn't scatter around or anything but know 00:24:51.799 --> 00:24:54.359 that if you're on a trail right now you're going 00:24:54.359 --> 00:24:56.299 to be dealing with mud, and there's a chance 00:24:56.299 --> 00:24:58.000 that bears and other wildlife is going to be 00:24:58.000 --> 00:25:00.200 out there. And when you're dealing with less 00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:03.099 than ideal trail conditions and wildlife, that 00:25:03.099 --> 00:25:07.039 can make for a very unfun day, especially because 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:08.980 with wildlife near a trail, you're going to have 00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:11.400 to move around. That could mean going through 00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:13.819 a patch of snow that you're just postholing in 00:25:13.819 --> 00:25:16.779 through a bog where it's super muddy or anything. 00:25:17.140 --> 00:25:20.559 So head out there. Be smart. be safe, carry bear 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:23.259 spray, have it readily accessible, not in a backpack, 00:25:23.420 --> 00:25:26.279 and know how to use it. That brings me to my 00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:29.000 Trek of the Week. So the Yellowstone River Overlook 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:31.319 Trail at the Yellowstone River Picnic Area is 00:25:31.319 --> 00:25:34.299 what I'm recommending this week, mainly because 00:25:34.299 --> 00:25:36.099 it's going to be mostly dry, it's going to be 00:25:36.099 --> 00:25:38.680 easy to hike on, and it's super scenic and awesome 00:25:38.680 --> 00:25:40.799 with some good wildlife potential and amazing 00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:44.059 scenery. So this is located just across the brand 00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:47.660 new bridge over the Yellowstone River and as 00:25:47.660 --> 00:25:50.589 you're headed toward Lamar. The area is minimally 00:25:50.589 --> 00:25:53.750 signed, and the picnic area is home to one of 00:25:53.750 --> 00:25:55.650 the most underrated hikes in Yellowstone National 00:25:55.650 --> 00:25:58.390 Park. This is one of my most frequented trails 00:25:58.390 --> 00:26:00.650 in the park, this in Hill Rowing probably. No 00:26:00.650 --> 00:26:02.829 matter what the season, I like to go to this. 00:26:03.029 --> 00:26:04.970 I'm recommending it this week for two reasons. 00:26:05.410 --> 00:26:07.869 One is that the hike is snow -free. The other 00:26:07.869 --> 00:26:11.250 is that it's short and relatively easy, and one 00:26:11.250 --> 00:26:13.750 that never disappoints. It's best known for showcasing 00:26:13.750 --> 00:26:15.690 the unique geology and sweeping views of the 00:26:15.690 --> 00:26:17.650 canyon, river, and mountains of the Northern 00:26:17.650 --> 00:26:20.430 Range. making it kind of the perfect half day 00:26:20.430 --> 00:26:23.769 jaunt. Not only will the views just absolutely 00:26:23.769 --> 00:26:26.710 wow you, but you may see bison, bighorn sheep, 00:26:27.009 --> 00:26:30.410 eagles, migratory birds, pronghorn, who knows. 00:26:31.250 --> 00:26:34.150 The only real difficulty right now for this trail 00:26:34.150 --> 00:26:38.750 is the start. And that's because the picnic area 00:26:38.750 --> 00:26:41.380 is currently closed. You may be able to park 00:26:41.380 --> 00:26:43.200 at the pullouts nearby and hike up the trail, 00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:45.980 but that privilege could be ending any day, especially 00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:48.039 once the construction crews return to finish 00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:51.000 the picnic area remodel. So if the pullouts nearby 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:53.420 are closed, you'll have to hike this trail from 00:26:53.420 --> 00:26:56.579 the Specimen Ridge Trail west trailhead. That's 00:26:56.579 --> 00:26:59.420 just a mile or so east of the picnic area. To 00:26:59.420 --> 00:27:02.180 do this version of the hike, you'll follow the 00:27:02.180 --> 00:27:04.279 Specimen Ridge Trail to the junction, which is 00:27:04.279 --> 00:27:07.349 about a mile in distance. Please be aware that 00:27:07.349 --> 00:27:09.750 large herds of bison often frequent the first 00:27:09.750 --> 00:27:11.589 three quarters of a mile of this trail, the Besman 00:27:11.589 --> 00:27:14.509 Ridge Trail West, and that's going to require 00:27:14.509 --> 00:27:16.950 you to walk far around them, off trail, sometimes 00:27:16.950 --> 00:27:19.730 uphill. If this isn't something you're comfortable 00:27:19.730 --> 00:27:23.869 with, do not attempt it. From the junction, turn 00:27:23.869 --> 00:27:25.950 right and follow the canyon rim as far as you 00:27:25.950 --> 00:27:28.450 wish. Make sure you wander around here and take 00:27:28.450 --> 00:27:30.710 in the views. The side of the Yellowstone River 00:27:30.710 --> 00:27:34.170 from this trail is truly gorgeous. Once you're 00:27:34.170 --> 00:27:37.539 at the ridge, I say go at least to the bend of 00:27:37.539 --> 00:27:40.500 the river by Bumpus Butte, which is about 1 .2 00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:43.779 miles from the region. The path here isn't complicated 00:27:43.779 --> 00:27:47.279 and right now the main source of having to do 00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:50.420 any sort of a detour is going to be because of 00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:53.279 mud, bison, or bighorn sheep. Stay on the canyon 00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:56.809 rim when you're hiking and you're going to recognize 00:27:56.809 --> 00:27:58.849 Bumpus Butte that I mentioned because there's 00:27:58.849 --> 00:28:01.109 going to be steam coming off the base and it's 00:28:01.109 --> 00:28:03.609 directly across from Calcite Springs, a popular 00:28:03.609 --> 00:28:06.670 place as you're headed up toward Tower. This 00:28:06.670 --> 00:28:08.849 is usually where I recommend people turn around 00:28:08.849 --> 00:28:13.869 as it gets pretty all the way to the picnic area, 00:28:13.970 --> 00:28:17.950 but if you do this, you're fine. Just sit and 00:28:17.950 --> 00:28:20.690 enjoy the views. There's some rocks by that Bumpus 00:28:20.690 --> 00:28:24.349 Butte area. And I usually have lunch there. I 00:28:24.349 --> 00:28:26.690 watch animals. The marmots are going to start 00:28:26.690 --> 00:28:29.269 coming out any day. There's little wildflowers 00:28:29.269 --> 00:28:31.990 that are popping out. There's birds flying overhead. 00:28:32.230 --> 00:28:35.230 And it's honestly like right now, I love this 00:28:35.230 --> 00:28:37.529 trail. I love the energy here. I think you'll 00:28:37.529 --> 00:28:40.450 love it too. And it's not too bad. If the parking 00:28:40.450 --> 00:28:43.930 area near the picnic area is open, then it's 00:28:43.930 --> 00:28:46.240 about the same amount of distance. but you're 00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:48.640 just going to be hiking up a hill to start, then 00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:50.259 following the canyon rim the river is going to 00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:51.720 be on your right, and then you're going to get 00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:54.019 to Bumpens Butte. If you get to Bumpens Butte, 00:28:54.099 --> 00:28:56.700 hike all the way up though until you get to the 00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:58.960 junction. The view at the junction is one of 00:28:58.960 --> 00:29:01.279 my favorite little gems of this that not everybody 00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:05.440 does. All right, that is the end of this week's 00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:07.940 episode. In the next episode, I'm going to return 00:29:07.940 --> 00:29:09.740 with all the information you need to have a good 00:29:09.740 --> 00:29:11.960 week in the park, including the wildlife, weather, 00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:15.119 and trail updates. Until then, book a tour with 00:29:15.119 --> 00:29:18.329 me. Pick up a guidebook of mine, and happy trails! 00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:47.319 Copyright 2026, baby.